In the first semester of pharmacy school, we spend a lot of time learning one core framework: ADME - absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. It’s how we evaluate whether a drug can actually work in the body, not just whether it looks good on paper.
What supposed me most is how often I now think about skincare through the same lens. Not because skin care products are drugs - but because the questions we ask are surprisingly similar.
If my friends asked what I’ve really learned so far, it wouldn’t be a product list. It would be how to think about skincare more clearly and realistically.
Absorption: Not Everything Needs to Go Deep
In pharmacy school, absorption isn’t about pushing ingredients as deep as possible - it’s about helping them reach the right layer to do their job effectively.
In skincare, hydration is one area where deeper absorption is beneficial. When the skin is properly hydrated, it becomes more receptive and functions more efficiently. Products such as Hydrate Moisture Accelerator are formulated with humectants that draw water into deeper layers of the skin, improving overall hydration while helping previously applied products absorb more effectively into the skin.
This kind of absorption doesn’t force ingredients past the skin’s defenses - it supports the skin’s natural water balance. When hydration is optimized, skin processes work more smoothly, and other products can perform more effectively without needing to be stronger or more aggressive.
Distribution: Where Products Actually End Up
In the body, distribution determines where a drug travels once it’s absorbed. In skincare, distribution is much simpler - products largely stay where they’re applied.
That means skincare works locally, not systemically. Applying more products, using higher concentrations, or layering multiple treatments doesn’t redistribute benefits across the skin - it just increases the exposure in one place.
This helped me understand why targeted routines often outperform complex ones. More product doesn’t mean better coverage - it usually just means more stress on the same area of the skin.
Metabolism: Skin Has Its Own Limits
One thing pharmacy school emphasizes is that metabolism determines how much the body can process at one time. When those pathways are overwhelmed, side effects happen.
Skin has limits, too. It has enzymes, turnover cycles (every 28-35 days), and repair mechanisms that work on their own timelines. When we introduce too many actives or constantly change products, we can exceed what the skin can comfortably handle.
I’ve learned that visible irritation isn’t the only sign of overload. Subtle sensitivity, texture changes, or a feeling that “nothing works anymore” can also signal that the skin needs less input - not more.
Excretion: When the Skin Can’t Clear the Load
In the body, excretion clears substances once they’ve done their job. Skin doesn’t have the same luxury.
Skincare ingredients don’t get “flushed out” in the same way. If a routine is too heavy, too occlusive, or too layered, the skin may struggle to clear buildup - leading to congestion, dullness, or reactivity over time.
The Big Lesson: Think Like a System, Not a Routine
ADME taught me that effectiveness isn’t about intensity - it’s about compatibility.
Skincare works best when products are chosen with intention, used consistently, and aligned with how the skin actually functions. The goal isn’t to force change, but to support processes that are already happening.
If I had to sum it up for my friends, it would be this: your skin doesn’t need more input - it needs the right input, at the right pace.
